Segun Oluade470,435 Lagosians living with HIV

“Today, a person diagnosed with HIV at the age of 20, if starts promptly on ART, is expected to live a normal life span, with a highly preserved quality of life”, said Dr Surya Rao speaking on the occasion. The state’s goal is to cut the number of new infections to 750 per year by 2020. “The message was being called out; unless we get on top of prevention, unless we focus on these new infections, we will constantly have to put more and more people on treatment”.

He then stressed the importance of a multi-sectoral approach to HIV/AIDS through active participation of all stakeholders including Civil Society Organisations, Private sector, Faith-based organisations, communities and people living with HIV and AIDS.

Of the 321 people testing positive for HIV from 1983 to the end of a year ago, 70% are men and 30%, women. In a quest to step up prevention, World Health Organization now recommends PrEP be offered to all people at substantial risk of HIV infection.

The minister was proud that the number of Australians with HIV remains lower than many countries.

“We must deploy all means to strengthen the HIV prevention response”.

Achieving these targets will require bold action, with the health sectors of nations around the world playing a central role.

It said other elements of this package include behaviour-change communication, the consistent use of male and female condoms and prevention programmes for key populations, including harm reduction for people who use drugs.

An estimated 2.2 million people with HIV were receiving ARVs in 2005.

“Unless we control new HIV infections among this group, our aspirations of becoming a vibrant middle-income economy in the next few years is in jeopardy”, she added. Nevertheless, the country had made great strides in dealing with the illness.

“The sense of urgency that was the norm during the disease’s most-destructive years must not be allowed to abate”, Dr Mpanju-Shumbusho said.